Cravings for dim sums and other delightful Chinese fare can hit you any time, anywhere — even during workweeks. If you’re lucky enough to be working near the Marina Bay Financial Centre, there’s a new restaurant to satisfy your appetite — Crystal Jade Prestige.

From the Crystal Jade group of restaurants comes this original concept which is more towards the fine dining side. Hence, the main dining room is fully carpeted and furnished with big round tables with pressed white linens and a set of cutleries and wine glasses. The ambient lighting also sets the mood, especially at night; but during the day, the whole restaurant is illuminated by the sunlight which enters from the floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

When it first opened early this year, the restaurant received mixed reviews — with some saying that the food is confused or is not as good as its sister restaurants. But after a couple of months, we can say that the culinary team has found its groove with more hits than misses.

^{Deep-fried dumpling with Chinese parsley}

Take for example two of chef’s specialties — deep-fried dumpling with Chinese parsley, a mini treat of flaky deep-fried puffs jam-packed with chunks of prawns and water chestnuts; as well as the pan-fried siew mai with foie gras, a contemporary creation that marries the French delicacy with pork and dumplings. Both pique the palate and give you a good sense of what’s to come.

^{Roasted baby suckling pig rolled with black truffle pearl rice}

Another showstopper is the roasted baby suckling pig rolled with black truffle pearl rice. The glistening pork skin, which is roasted to achieve a crispy and juicy texture, wraps the pearl rice of truffle and abalone sauce.

Chinese food is also known for its soups, and Crystal Jade Prestige offers the double-boiled morel mushroom and bamboo pith soup. Served very hot in a steamed coconut, it’s enough to warn the stomach for other dishes — such as the tea-smoked roasted duck.

^{Tea-smoked roast duck}

The restaurant’s prized dish, the duck takes 30 hours to prepare; and this includes marinating the bird for 24 hours and smoking it in a wok with some special spices and Pu-er leaves. An advanced order of three days is required, but with all the effort it takes to prepare one duck, it’s really worth it.

Not so worth it is the baked crispy glutinous rice with scallop; its sweetness overwhelmed by the dollop of sticky rice. But all is well when the desserts are served, and the popular choices are aloe vera with lemongrass jelly and chilled mango puree with pomelo and sago.

Crystal Jade Prestige | 8A Marina Boulevard, 02-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre (Ground Plaza), S(018984)